Capsule forming machine



F e5. 4; 1958 1:). FIGLIO CAPSULE FORMING MACHINE Filed Jul 6, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v a) My. )1 v 1+ 3 3 m M. 8 n u 2 2 Fish INVENTOR. DANIEL FIGLIO F I G. 6. MM xak \NQ ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1958 FIGLIO CAPSULE FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-sheaf 2 Filed July 6, 1955 g 2 5 is; C 5:; m on 8\ o .0

x. C E c 2533 c a I ATTO'RNEYS Feb. 4, 1958 D. FIGLIO 2,821,749

CAPSULE FORMING MACHINE Filed July 6, 1955 5 Shets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1958 D. FleLio CAPSULE FORMING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 6, 1955 s oy n U G mm H .n M m MW 'I W W Feb. 4, 19 58 D. FIGLIO 2,821,749

CAPSULE FORMING MACHINE Filed July 6. 1955 s ShetsSheet 5 INVENTOR. DANIEL Fl GLIO FIG. 7.

ATTOR NEYS United States Patent CAPSULE FORMING MACHINE Daniel Figlio, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to Smith, Kline 8; French Laboratories, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application July 6, 1955, Serial No. 520,198

Claims. (Cl. 18-25) This invention relates to an improvement in a capsule forming machine and, more particularly, to an improvement in the machine described in the patent to Arthur Colton No. 1,787,777, issued January 6, 1931.

In this patent there is disclosed apparatus for forming cap and body portions of capsules and for discharging from the apparatus assembled capsules. As will be hereinafter described in greater detail, the machine involves the manipulation of fiat bars carrying pins extending substantially perpendicular from the flat faces thereof on which capsule bodies and capsule caps are formed from a gelatinous film or coating which is applied, hardened and then removed from the pins.

This invention relates to improved apparatus for progressing the pin bars from one particular station in this machine to the next succeeding station therein.

The invention will become evident from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of the overall machine which is fully described in the above-mentioned patent;

Figure 2 is a partially cut-away perspective view of one of the pin bars over the pins of which capsule parts are formed;

Figure 3 is a transverse section through a portion of the machine as indicated by the trace 3-3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a cut-away side elevation of the portion of the machine shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the machine embodying the present invention and shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus shown in Figure 3; and

Figure 7 is a transverse section through the machine taken on the trace '7-7 shown in Figure 1 showing the portion of the machine to which pin bars are delivered from the portion of the machine shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

A diagrammatic showing of the complete machine is indicated generally by the numeral 10 in Figure 1 and includes facilities for manipulating a plurality of pin bars such as that indicated generally at 12 in Figure 2. Each of the pin bars includes a flat plate, as indicated by the numeral 50 in Figure 2, and a row of pins 13 extending perpendicularly from one face thereof. As is fully described in the above-mentioned patent, the machine includes a portion indicated at 14 in Figure 1 in which pin bars are carried by means which immerse the pins in tanks of gelatin and thereafter elevates the pin bars. The pin bars are then carried through a portion 16 of the machine to and through a portion 18. At the extreme end portion 20 of the machine, the direction of the pin bars is reversed and the pin bars are carried to the right, as viewed in Figure 1, through portion 22 of the machine. The pin bars travel through the portions 18, 2t) and 22 of the machine in groups of bars in side by side arrangement and anemia Fatented Feb. 4, 1953 extending longitudinally of the machine. While traveling through the portions 18 and 22 of the machine, the gelatinous coating on the pins of the pin bars, as indicated at 15 in Figure 2, is dried.

The pin bars are delivered from the portion 22 to the portion 24 of the machine from which the pin bars traverse in pairs through portion 26 of the machine wherein the capsule parts are stripped from the pin bars and thereafter the pin bars traverse through the portion 28 of the machine wherein the pins are prepared for the application of th gelatinous coating which is accomplished in the lower se tion of portion 14 of the machine following the preparation of the pins in portion 28 of the machine.

The invention disclosed herein involves the manipulation of the pin bars in the portion 24 of the machine. In this portion or" the machine, as is indicated generally at 24 in Figures 3 and 4, pin bars are received from the portion 22 of the machine. The pin bars are progressed through the portion 22 of the machine in side by side relation and in endwise directions as indicated at 26 in Figure 3. A similar group of pin bars is advanced along each side of the machine in symmetrical relation. While it is unimportant from the standpoint of the invention, it may be noted that the pin bars progressed along one side of the machine are pin bars for producing capsule caps and the pin bars progressing along the other side of the machine are pin bars for producing capsule bodies. A full disclosure of the means for progressing the pin bars to the positions indicated generally at 26 in Figure 3 is set forth in the above-mentioned patent. This means serves at intervals to feed the groups of pin bars, indicated at 26 in Figure 3, from the supporting surfaces 28 upon platforms 30 located on either side of a central separating mechanism which will be hereinafter described.

The platforms 3% are normally positioned below the lower ends of the supporting surfaces 28 and are lifted at the proper time to receive the groups of bars pushed forward from the supporting surfaces 28. When the platforms 30 have received groups of bars, they are lowered so that the ends of the bars rest upon the upper sides of endless sprocket chains 32 carried on sprockets 35 and 36 and extending transversely of the machine from the outer edge thereof to the central portion thereof. The upper reaches of these chains are constantly advancing toward the center of the machine and thus the bars in contact with the chains are constantly urged toward the center of the machine due to the friction of the chains thereon but are prevented from moving due to the fact that the innermost bars abut against the sides 38 of an elevating guide member 40 which is shown more clearly in Figure 5.

The member 453 moves downwardly periodically as will be hereinafter described so that single bars may be moved upon its upper surface from each side by the chains 32 and assume positions thereon as is most clearly shown at 42 in Figure 6. The member 40 then rises to the position shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6 and, when the member 40 reaches the upper end of its movement, the rear ends of levers 44 engage nuts adjustably positioned on the upper ends of fixed vertically extending bolts 46 which cause the forward ends of the levers to lift. The forward ends 48 of the levers are positioned under the pin bars and, when they lift, they cause the bars to turn outwardly upon their sides as shown at St in Figure 5.

Aflixed. to the ends 48 of each of the levers 44 is an "angle plate 52 which mounts a conical member 54 positioned to abut one end of a cooperating arm 56 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the top of the member 40 as is indicated at 58. The other ends 60 of eachv of the levers 56 are in the vicinity of the mid portion of the member 40 and are deflected outwardly horizonally-therefrom when the ends 48 of the levers 44 are raised upwardly. The cutermost-end6t) of each of the levers 56 engages one of the turned pin bars, such as that shown at in Figure 5, and insures the proper positionfing-o'fthe pin bar upon guide means-in the form-o'f'asucsession of angle step members 62 affixed to bars 6 5 extending adjacent 'to either side of the member '40 in a direction longitudinally of the machine and supported on end'bracket members 66 and 68 afiixed to the framework of the machine.

When-the pin bars have been turned on their sides, as indicated at '56 in Figures 5 and 6, they are in position to :be moved into the next station of the machine'whic h is shown in Figure 7 and will be hereinafter described. Before and .during the initial portion of this movement, the pin bars are retained in position upon the members 62 by the ends of the levers 56 which have insured the "proper positioning of .the bars upon the members 62 and :serve to insure proper .entry of the bars 50 "into the .next unit of the machine.

The "platforms 3.0 are elevated and lowered through operation of .arms 70 carrying rollers '72 which, during a revolution of a shaft 74 mounting the arms 70, contact the lower surfaces of levers 76, shown in Figure 4, and move the levers upwardly. The levers 76 are connected integrally with levers 78 through shafts 80 extending transversely of the machine. The levers 78 act upon upright members 82 extending downwardly from the platforms 39. The members 82 are movably mounted in bores extend ing through vertically extending frame portions 84 of the machine.

Worm gears 86 are affixed to the shafts 74 and are driven by worms 88 affixed to shafts 90 which are driven through bevelled gears indicated generally at 92 in Fig ure 4 driven from a cross-shaft 94 mounting a worm gear 96 driven by a worm 98 affixed to a main drive shaft 1% extending longitudinally through the machine and driven by prime moving means not shown but described in the above-mentioned patent.

Each of the shafts 90 carries a sprocket 102 which, through a suitable chain 104, drives the shafts 34 carrying the sprockets 35 which drive the chains 32 carrying the pin bars for the center of the machine.

The right-hand shaft 90, as viewed in Figure 3, also carries at its far end a crank 106 to the end of which is pivotally connected a lever 108 the other end of which is connected to an arm 110 extending downwardly from and affixed to a shaft 112 extending longitudinally of the machine and mounting gear segments 114 in mesh with racks on vertically extending posts 116 the upper ends of which are a'ffixed to the member 40. It will be evident that rotation of the shaft 90 will produce vertical oscillations of the member 40 through this mechanism.

When the member 40 has lifted a pair of bars to its upper level and the bars have been turned over onto their sides as indicated at 50 in Figures 5 and 6, the bars are pushed lengthwise into the next station of the machine by a member 118 which is forked at its left-hand end 126, as viewed in Figure 4, so as to engage the ends of each of the pin bars 50 shown in Figures 5 and 6 and to clear the mechanism positioned on top of the member 40. The member 118 is guided in its longitudinal movement by the longitudinal guide rod 122 extending longitudinally of the machine and mounted between the plate 66 and a member 124 afiixed to the frame of the machine. The member 118 is moved to the left, as viewed in Figure 4, by means of a rack 126 which is guided for motion longitudinally of the machine within the member 124 and which pivotally mounts, at its left-hand end as viewed in Figure 4, the right-hand end portion of the member 118 on a pivot 128. The rack 126 is actuated by a gear 130 which is mounted on a transversely extending shaft 132 mounted in a frame member of the machine. The shaft i32 also mounts a smaller gear 134 which is actuated by a rack 136 extending vertically from a pivot 138 on a disc 140 rotatably mounted on a shaft 142 extending transversely oftheanachine and mounting a-gear 144 which is driven by the gear 96 mounted on the cross-shaft 94.

Immediately below the rack 126 is a guide rod 146 which is mounted for longitudinal sliding motion within a friction plate 147 attached to the frame of the machine and which has its forward end connected to a lug on the member 118 by means of a pin 143 acting in a slot 150 in the lug. l During movementof the member 118 to the left, as viewed in Figure 4, the friction of the bar 146 in its guide 147 will act as a drag on the member 118 and cause the forward ends 120 of the member to remain in their lowermost positions against the ends of the pin bars 50 hein'g 'move'd. During rearward movement of the rack 126, the friction of the bar 146 in its guide will cause the member 118 to lift its ends 120 and thus avoid contact with the next pair of pin bars being raised by the elevator member 40 at this time.

in Figure 7 there is shown the portion of the machine into which the pin bars are delivered from the portion of the machine shown in Figures 3 and 4. In Figure 7 there is indicated generally at 152 mechanism for removing the gelatinous coating from the 'pins of the pin bars. This mechanism has been fully set forth in the above-mentioned patent and need not be described in detail herein, it beingsuffic'ien't "to note that in this station of the machine there is provided a receiver 154 containing slots 156 within which the bars of the pin bars are positioned and by which they are held in sliding relation with the receiver 154. For this reason it is essential that the pin bars passing from the station of the machine shown in Figures 3 and 4 be accurately positioned.

In order to insure this accurate positioning, the plate 66 and a block 158 mounted thereon, in cooperation with the members 64 and the angle blocks 62 supported thereby, are recessed to provide rigid and accurately positioned guide surfaces for the upper, lower and outer faces of the bars of the pin bars; It will now be evident that the levers 56 mounted on the elevator member 40 are effective in holding the pin bars into engagement with these guide surfaces during the initial stages of motion of the pin bars 50 from the position shown in Figure 5 to the position shown at 51 in Figure 7. Once entry of the bars has been accomplished into the slots 1.56 in the receiver 154, the member 40 commences its downward movement, the levers 56 are retracted by springs 57 and the ends 60 of the levers 56 clear the blocks 62 as the member 40 moves downwardly. The pin bars, as indicated at 50 in Figure 6, remain in the blocks 62 and their advance to the next station of the machine is continued by means of the member 118 and the driving mechanism therefor.

In the absence of the provision of holding means, such as the levers 56, proper positioning of the pin bars is not insured. Furthermore, the holding action of the levers must be of a temporary nature and driving power for their operation is conveniently obtained in the manner described in perfect synchronism with motion of the member 40 and the levers 44.

What is claimed is:

I. In a machine for forming capsules flat bars carrying pins extending substantially perpendicularly of flat faces thereof and on which capsule parts are formed, means for receiving successive pairs of horizontally extending pin bars lying flat in side by side arrangement, means for rotating the bars of said pairs of received pin bars in opposite directions around their longitudinal axes to position the bars on edge with their pins extending in opposite directions, means for rec'eivir'zg and supporting pin bars rotated by said rotating means, and means for longitudinally moving rotated pairs of pin bars" from said supporting means for delivery of the bars to next successiv'e receiving means in the machine, said rotating means including horizontally moving means for guiding pin bars during rotation thereof and for supporting the pin bars in said supporting r'n'ean's after rotation of the bars and during movement of the rotated bars to said next successive receiving means.

2. In a machine for forming capsules flat bars carrying pins extending substantially perpendicularly of flat faces thereof and on which capsule parts are formed, vertically moving means for receiving successive pairs of horizontally extending pin bars lying flat in side by side arrangement, vertically moving means for rotating the bars of said pairs of received pin bars in opposite directions around their longitudinal axes to position the bars on edge with their pins extending in opposite directions, horizontally extending fixed means for receiving and supporting pin bars rotated by said rotating means, and means for longitudinally moving rotated pairs of pin bars from said supporting means for delivery of the bars to next successive receiving means in the machine, said rotating means including vertically moving means mounted on said first mentioned receiving means for rotating the pin bars by raising adjacent edges of pin bars thereon and horizontally moving means mounted on said first mentioned receiving means for guiding pin bars during rotation thereof by said vertically moving means and for supporting pin bars in said supporting means after rotation of the bars and during movement of the rotated bars to said next successive receiving means.

3. In a machine for forming capsules flat bars carrying pins extending substantially perpendicularly of flat faces thereof and on which capsule parts are formed, means for receiving successive pairs of horizontally extending pin bars lying flat in side by side arrangement, means for rotating the bars of said pairs of received pin bars in opposite directions around their longitudinal axes to position the bars on edge with their pins extending in opposite directions, means for receiving and supporting pin bars rotated by said rotating means, and means for longitudinally moving rotated pairs of pin bars from said supporting means for delivery of the bars to next successive receiving means in the machine, said rotating means including vertically moving means mounted on said first mentioned receiving means for rotating the pin bars by raising adjacent edges of pin bars thereon and means mounted on said first mentioned receiving means and actuated by said vertically moving means for supporting the pin bars in said supporting means after rotation thereof of the bars and during movement of the rotated bars to said next successive receiving means.

4. In a machine for forming capsules fiat bars carrying pins extending substantially perpendicularly of flat faces thereof and on which capsule parts are formed, means for receiving successive pairs of horizontally extending pin bars lying fiat in side by side arrangement, means for rotating the bars of said pairs of received pin bars in opposite directions around their longitudinal axes to position the bars on edge with their pins extending in opposite directions, means for receiving and supporting pin bars rotated by said rotating means, and means for longitudinally moving rotated pairs of pin bars from said supporting means for delivery of the bars to next successive receiving means in the machine, said rotating meeans including vertically moving means mounted on said first mentioned receiving means for rotating the pin bars by raising adjacent edges of pin bars thereon and separate moving means mounted on said first mentioned receiving means for acting against the upper edges of the pin bars after the bars have passed through a portion of their rotation.

5. In a machine for forming capsules fiat bars carrying pins extending substantially perpendicularly of fiat faces thereof and on Which capsule parts are formed, elevating means for raising successive pairs of horizontally extending pin bars lying flat in side by side arrangement, means for rotating the bars of pairs of raised pin bars in opposite directions around their longitudinal axes to position the bars on edge with their pins extending in opposite directions, means for receiving and supporting pin bars rotated by said rotating means, and means for longitudinally moving rotated pairs of pin bars from said supporting means for delivery of the bars to next successive receiving means in the machine, said rotating means being mounted on said elevating means and including means for raising adjacent longitudinal edges of pairs of bars carried by said elevating means and means for moving the upper edges of raised pairs of bars horizontally apart to insure movement of said bars into said receiving and supporting means References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

